Sleeping bag

ABSTRACT

A sleeping bag having an elongated bottom mat formed of flexible material and having opposing head and foot edges. The main cover is formed of flexible material, has head and foot edges, and overlies the bottom mat, to which it is permanently secured. The main cover has a transverse slit between the head and foot edges of the cover at a location closer to the foot edge of the main cover than to the head edge, and spaced from the foot edge by about one to three feet. The foot edge of the bottom mat is releasably secured to the foot edge of the main cover, and the head edge of the bottom mat is not joined to the head edge of the main cover to provide an entry into the sleeping bag for a user. A top cover, also formed of flexible material, is secured to the main cover and overlies only the portion of the main cover that includes the foot edge and the transverse slit of the main cover.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This patent application is a continuation and claims the benefit of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 10/229,083 filed Aug. 28, 2002 for SleepingBag, which application is incorporated here by this reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to articles of bedding, and sleeping bagsin particular.

BACKGROUND ART

Sleeping bags have long been used by campers either for sleepingoutdoors or sleeping in tents. Sleeping bags are also utilized indoorswhen a bed is not conveniently available.

A conventional sleeping bag is typically constructed from thermallyinsulated sheet-like layers of materials, often filled with thermallyinsulated padding. A typical sleeping bag is constructed of an expanseof a generally rectangular, multi-ply fabric pad folded linearly in halfand having interengageable zipper strips extending about the peripheral,unfolded edges where the unfolded edges of the halves of the folded padmeet. In some sleeping bags the padding on one side of the longitudinalfold may be heavier than on the other and may even include padding toserve as a pillow at the top end. The heavier side of the structure thenserves as a bottom mat layer. In any event, even when the layers ofmaterial are equally padded, one-half of the expanse of the pad servesas a mat to support the occupant's body from beneath, while the otherhalf is folded over the occupant's body to serve as a main cover.

Conventional sleeping bags are typically constructed so as to keep theoccupant warm in chilly, or even very cold, ambient temperatures.Conventional sleeping bags are designed in different weights and withdifferent insulating characteristics depending upon the temperatures ofthe environments in which they are to be utilized. Nevertheless,virtually all sleeping bags are designed to provide maximum warmth to anoccupant for the temperature conditions in which use is contemplated.

However, quite often a sleeping bag will be utilized in ambienttemperatures well above the lowest temperature for which the sleepingbag is designed. Under such circumstances, the occupant often becomesuncomfortably warm when covered by the main covering layer of thesleeping bag. In particular, an occupant's feet and legs may becomeuncomfortably warm due to retained body heat trapped between the layers.

While an occupant can always merely throw back the main cover to cooloff, this practice is often unacceptable in environments in whichsleeping bags are frequently used. Specifically, when the main coveringlayer of a sleeping bag is thrown off of the occupant's body, theoccupant is subjected to attack by flying and crawling insects. Thus,the occupant is faced with the undesirable choices of remaining beneaththe main covering layer of the sleeping bag and thus remaininguncomfortably warm, or exposing his or her body to the annoyance,discomfort, and pain of insects.

A further disadvantage of merely throwing off the covering layer of aconventional sleeping bag is that only the feet and lower legs of theoccupant may be uncomfortably warm when encapsulated between the matlayer and the main covering layer of the sleeping bag, while theoccupant's upper body may at the same time be quite comfortable.Consequently, if the occupant merely pulls back the top covering layerof the sleeping bag, the occupant's torso may feel chilly, even thoughthe occupant's legs and feet are uncomfortably warm.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

The present invention involves a modification to the construction of anotherwise conventional sleeping bag having a main cover and bottomlayers which are permanently secured lengthwise along one side, andsecured by a zipper or some other releaseable fastening system along theother side and across the foot extremities of the layers. According tothe invention the main covering layer is created with a transverse slitthat is wide enough for a person to put his or her legs through. Thisslit is parallel to the bottom of the sleeping bag and located at aboutthe level of a person's shins. Atop the leg area portion of the sleepingbag a top half length cover is placed and is permanently secured alongthe sides of the main cover layer. The top cover includes a collapsiblemesh end panel extending across an end opening between the top cover andthe main cover layer of the sleeping bag. The mesh has a size sufficientto allow air circulation, but is small enough to exclude insects. Inaddition, another zipper is provided extending transversely across thefoot of the sleeping bag to releasably join the main cover layer and thetop cover layer disposed on top of the main cover layer together with azipper slide.

The user can thus utilize the improved sleeping bag of the invention inat least three different ways. In relatively warm ambient air, the userinserts his or her feet through the slit in the main cover layer andunzips completely the zipper slide on the upper zipper between the maincover layer and the top cover layer located thereabove. The user's feetare then inserted into the area between the main cover layer of thesleeping bag and the top cover layer located above it. The user's feetwill then remain relatively cool due to air circulation flowing throughthe mesh panel that extends between the main cover layer of the sleepingbag and the top cover layer located above it. Alternatively, the usercan completely or partially close the opening between the main coverlayer of the sleeping bag and the top half length cover layer above itto reduce air circulation into the bag from the outside. In a furthermanner of use the user withdraws his or her feet from the slit andinserts them beneath the main cover layer and the bottom mat layer ofthe sleeping bag, thereby utilizing the sleeping bag in a conventionalmanner.

In one embodiment of the invention the short or half length top layercan be totally unzipped from the main cover layer so that the sleepingbag becomes a conventional one. Furthermore, the short top layer can beformed of different materials, so that different weight top half lengthlayers can be used interchangeably atop the main cover layer fordifferent weather and climate conditions.

Construction of a bedding article according to the present invention isnot limited to a sleeping bag. Quite to the contrary, the same uniqueconstruction may be applied to other articles of bedding, such asblankets. In particular, older people often use double layers ofblankets over their feet at night. They sometimes remove the top blanketcovering their feet should their feet become excessively warm during thenight. However, a blanket constructed according to the present inventionmay be provided with a main cover layer and a top covering layer overthe lower leg portion of the main cover layer. A slit is defined throughthe main cover layer of the blanket beneath the top covering layer sothat the blanket may be utilized in the same manner previously describedfor a sleeping bag. Thus, a user need not throw off an unwanted blanketfrom his or her feet during the night, but merely inserts his or herfeet through the slit in the main blanket layer so that the feet remaincovered by the top layer, and are not excessively warm.

In one broad aspect the present invention may be considered to be abedding article for accommodating the body of a person. The beddingarticle of the invention is comprised of an elongated main cover layerof flexible material having an upper body portion and also a lower bodyportion with a foot extremity. A transverse slit is defined in the lowerbody portion between said upper body portion and said foot extremity. Atop cover layer overlies the lower body portion of said main cover layerand is secured thereto, either permanently or removably. A person isthereby able to lay beneath the main cover layer with his or her feetcovered by both the lower body portion and the top cover layer.Alternatively, the user can insert his or her feet through the slitdefined in the lower body portion of the main cover layer so that thefeet are covered only by the top cover layer.

The invention has particular applicability to sleeping bags. In asleeping bag structure, the bedding article is further comprised of anelongated bottom layer of flexible material underlying the main coverand having an upper body portion with a head extremity and also a lowerbody portion with a foot extremity. The user lays upon the elongatedbottom layer, which serves as a mat, with the main cover layer overlyingthe body of the user and the top cover layer overlying only the lowerbody portion of the main cover layer.

In another aspect the invention may be considered to be a sleeping bagcomprising: an elongated bottom mat formed of flexible material andhaving opposing head and foot extremities; an elongated main cover alsoformed of flexible material and having head and foot extremities andoverlying the bottom mat and permanently secured thereto and having atransverse slit defined therethrough at a location closer to the footextremity than to the head extremity; and a top cover secured to themain cover and also formed of a flexible material and overlying only aportion of the main cover, including the foot extremity and thetransverse slit.

In preferred embodiments of the invention the layers of flexiblematerial are each formed with opposing longitudinal edges and all of thelayers are permanently joined to each other along at least one of thelongitudinal edges. Preferably also, the top cover layer has a footextremity and the bedding article is further comprised of an upperfastening system releasably joining the foot extremity of the top coverlayer to the foot extremity of the bottom covering layer. The upperfastening system is typically formed of a pair of transverse strips ofinterengageable zipper teeth. One strip is attached transversely acrossthe foot extremity of the main cover layer while the other strip isattached transversely across the foot extremity of the top cover layer.A zipper slide is provided for releasably engaging the teeth of thecomplementary zipper strips together.

However, alternative fastening systems may also be used. For example,the top cover layer and the main cover layer may be joined to each otherby flexible hook and loop fabric fastener strips of the type sold underthe registered trademark Velcro®. Also, the foot extremities of the topcover layer and the main cover layer may be joined to each other by snapfasteners. Other conventional fastening systems may also be utilized.

In some embodiments of the invention the bedding article may be furthercomprised of a flexible, ventilated mesh panel joined to and extendingbetween the foot extremities of the top cover layer and the main coverlayer. Also, when the article of bedding is a sleeping bag, it isfurther comprised of an elongated bottom mat layer of flexible materialunderlying the main cover layer and having an upper body portion with ahead extremity and a lower body portion with a foot extremity.Preferably, a lower fastening system releasably joins the footextremities of the main cover layer and the bottom mat layer together.Again, this fastening system may be comprised of a pair of strips ofinterengageable zipper teeth that are secured and released relative toeach other by means of a zipper slide, Velcro® hook and loop fabricfastener strips, or snap fasteners.

In still another aspect the invention may be considered to be animprovement in a sleeping bag including an elongated, flexible bottommat with opposing first and second longitudinally engaged portions, anelongated main cover secured to the bottom mat and having opposing firstand second longitudinally arranged portions respectively overlying thefirst and second portions of the bottom mat. According to theimprovement of the invention an upper top cover overlies only the secondor lower body portions of the main cover and the bottom mat. Also, atransverse slit is defined through and transversely across the secondportion of the main cover to accommodate the insertion and removal ofthe feet of a sleeping bag occupant.

The invention may be described with greater clarity and particularity byreference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a sleeping bagconstructed according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a side sectional view taken along the lines 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional elevational detail illustrating how a user maycover his or her feet with only the top cover layer of the sleeping bagof FIG. 1 with the foot extremities of the cover layers closed.

FIG. 4 is a sectional elevational detail illustrating how a user maycover his or her feet with both the main cover layer and top cover layerof the sleeping bag of FIG. 1.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appendeddrawings is intended as a description of presently-preferred embodimentsof the invention and is not intended to represent the only forms inwhich the present invention may be constructed or utilized. Thedescription sets forth the functions and the sequence of steps forconstructing and operating the invention in connection with theillustrated embodiments. However, it is to be understood that the sameor equivalent functions and sequences may be accomplished by differentembodiments that are also intended to be encompassed within the spiritand scope of the invention.

FIG. 1 illustrates a sleeping bag indicated generally at 10. Thesleeping bag 10 includes an elongated, padded bottom layer 12 having afirst upper body portion 14 with a head extremity 16 and a second lowerbody portion 18 with a foot extremity 20. The bottom layer 12 istypically padded with insulating material and forms a mat to support thebody 22 of a user from beneath, as illustrated in FIG. 2.

The sleeping bag 10 is further comprised of an elongated main coverlayer 24 which is also formed of flexible material. The main cover layer24 overlies the bottom layer 12 and also has a first upper body portion26 with a head extremity 28 and a second lower body portion 30 with afoot extremity 32. A transverse slit 34 is defined through the maincover layer 24 across the width of the main cover layer 24 in the lowerbody portion 30 between the upper body portion 26 and the foot extremity32. The slit 24 is located between about one foot and about three feetfrom the foot extremity 32, typically about eighteen inches therefrom.The sleeping bag 10 is further comprised of a top cover half lengthlayer 36 overlying only the lower body portion 30, and not the upperbody portion 26 of the main cover layer 24. The top cover layer 36extends longitudinally only about one-half the length of the main coverlayer 24 and the bottom mat layer 12. The top cover layer 36 has a footextremity 37 at one end and terminates at about the demarcation betweenthe upper body portion 26 and the lower body portion 30 of the maincover layer 24.

The layers 12, 24, and 36 are each formed with opposing longitudinaledges, indicated as a right-hand edge 38 and a left-hand edge 40 inFIG. 1. The layers 12, 24, and 36 may all be permanently joined to eachother along at least one of the longitudinal edges 38 and 40. In theembodiment of the invention illustrated, the layers 12, 24, and 36 areall permanently joined together along the left-hand longitudinal edge40. More specifically, the main cover layer 24 is permanently joined tothe bottom mat layer 12 along the left longitudinal edge 40, since thesetwo layers are constructed as halves of a large, expansive, thick,rectangular pad folded in half as indicated at 42 to form the left-handedges 40 of the top cover layer 24 and the bottom mat layer 12. Thetransverse edges at the head extremities 16 and 28 of the bottom layer12 and main cover layer 24, respectively, and the transverse edgesformed at the foot extremities 20 and 32 of the bottom layer 12 and maincover layer 24, respectively, as well as the right side edges 38 of thetwo layers 12 and 24 are releasably fastened together by zipper strips41 and 43 having interengageable teeth that are alternatively coupledtogether or released from each other by a conventional zipper slide 45.In the embodiment shown, the top cover layer 36 is permanently joined tothe main cover layer 24 along both longitudinal edges 38 and 40 by linesof stitching, one of which is visible at 46 in FIG. 1.

As best illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a ventilated, transverselyextending rectangular-shaped mesh panel 48 is provided at the footextremity 37 of the top cover layer 36 and the foot extremity 32 of themain cover layer 24 and is secured thereto by means of a conventionalzipper 50. The zipper 50 has a pair of zipper strips 52 and 54,respectively attached to the foot extremity 37 of the top cover layer 36and the foot extremity 32 of the main cover layer 24. The zipper strips52 and 54 have interengageable zipper teeth that are secured together bymeans of a zipper slide 56.

The zipper 50 formed by the zipper strips 52 and 54 and the slide 56serves as an upper fastening system that allows the flexible mesh panel48 to be opened for ventilation, as illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, orclosed to retain body heat, as illustrated in FIG. 3. The mesh of theventilating panel 48 is fine enough to prevent the entry of insects inbetween the main cover layer 24 and top cover layer 36 at the footextremities thereof when the mesh panel 48 is open, as illustrated inFIG. 1 and FIG. 2. However, the mesh openings are large enough to permitair circulation when the zipper 50 is unzipped, as indicated by thedirectional arrows 58 in FIG. 2.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the top cover panel layer 36 is provided withelongated, triangular-shaped expansion panels 60 at both of thelongitudinal side edge 38 and 40. The expansion panels 60 permit thefoot extremity 37 of the top cover layer 36 to be lifted and separatedseveral inches from the foot extremity 32 of the main cover layer 24,thus affording a sufficient area for air to circulate as indicated at58.

The sleeping 10 of the invention may be utilized in several differentways. As illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the user 22 may lie on thebottom mat layer 12 with the main cover layer 24 pulled up over theuser's torso and with the user's feet 62 inserted through the transverseslit 34 in the main cover layer 24 with the zipper 50 unzipped. With thesleeping bag 10 in this condition the upper body portion 26 and theupper part of the lower body portion 30 of the main cover layer 24 abovethe slit 34 reside atop the body of the user 22, while the user's lowercalves and feet 62 rest atop the lowermost part of the lower bodyportion 30 of the main cover layer 24 that resides between the slit 34and the foot extremity 32.

The top cover layer 36 is typically fairly light in weight so that theuser's feet 62 do not become unduly warm from trapped body heat.Furthermore, since the user's toes typically prop the lower end of thetop cover layer 36 upwardly, pushing it away from the underlying lowerportion of the main cover layer 24, the foot extremities 37 and 32 ofthe top cover layer 36 and bottom cover layer 24, respectively, arespread vertically apart. This opens up the mesh panel 48 to aircirculation between the vertically separated foot extremities 32 and 37of the main cover layer 24 and top cover layer 36, respectively. Theuser's feet 62 are thereby cooled both by the air circulation indicatedat 58, and by the single layer, relatively light-weight insulationprovided by the top cover layer 36.

In slightly cooler conditions the user may still wish for his or herlower extremities to be covered only by the top cover layer 36 but mayalso wish to eliminate drafts through the mesh panel 48, which may betoo cool for comfort if ambient temperature falls. In such a situation,the user operates the slide 56 of the zipper 50 to draw the zipperstrips 54 and 56 together and interengage their zipper teeth to bringthe foot extremities 32 and 37 of the main cover layer 24 and top coverlayer 36 together, as illustrated in FIG. 3. With the zipper 50 closed,as illustrated in FIG. 3, the mesh panel 48 is folded inwardly andentrapped within the confines of the sleeping bag 10. The user's feet 62are still covered by only the light layer of insulating materialafforded by the top cover layer 36, but are not subject to the coolingeffects of air circulation through the mesh panel 48.

In still cooler weather the user 22 may wish to keep his or her feet 62even more fully covered. This may easily be done without undoing anyzippers and without getting out of the sleeping bag 10. Quite to thecontrary, the user need only withdraw his or her feet 62 away from thefoot extremities 37, 32, and 20 of the several layers 12, 24, and 36 ofthe sleeping bag 10. The user's feet 62 are pulled back out through theslit 34. The user then merely extends his or her feet 62 back beneaththe lowermost portion of the lower body portion 30 of the main coverlayer 24. The user's feet 62 are then located atop the lowermost portion18 of the bottom layer 12 and are covered, not only by the top coverlayer 36, but also by the main cover layer 24, as illustrated in FIG. 4.The user will employ the sleeping bag 10 with feet 62 inserted asillustrated in FIG. 4 to achieve the maximum conservation of body heatwithin the foot area of the sleeping bag 10.

Undoubtedly, numerous variations and modifications of the invention willbecome readily apparent to those familiar with articles of bedding. Forexample, the same structural combination of the main cover layer 24 andtop cover layer 36 may utilized in the form of a blanket, completelyseparable from any underlying structure. Such a blanket may be utilizedatop a bed to achieve the same alternative cooling or body heatconservation effects illustrated in the drawing figures. Also, manydifferent types of releaseable fastening systems may be substituted forthe zippers shown in the illustrated embodiment. Accordingly, the scopeof the invention should not be construed as limited to the specificembodiment depicted and described, but rather is defined in the claimsappended hereto.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

This invention may be industrially applied to the development,manufacture, and use of articles of bedding, particularly sleeping bags.

1. A bedding article for accommodating the body of a person comprising:(a) an elongated main cover layer of flexible material having an upperbody portion and also a lower body portion with a foot extremity andincluding a transverse slit defined in said lower body portion betweensaid upper body portion and said foot extremity; (b) a top cover layeroverlying said lower body portion of said main cover layer and securedthereto; and (c) an elongated bottom layer of flexible material havingan upper body portion with a head extremity and also a lower bodyportion with a foot extremity, said bottom layer is disposed beneathsaid main cover layer, a side edge of the bottom layer is permanentlysecured to a side edge of the main cover layer, a head edge of the upperbody portion of the main cover layer and a head edge of the bottom layercombining to form an entry into the bedding article for the person.
 2. Asleeping bag comprising: (a) an elongated bottom mat formed of flexiblematerial and having opposing head and foot edges; (b) an elongated maincover also formed of flexible material and having head and foot edgesand overlying said bottom mat and permanently secured thereto and havinga transverse slit defined therethrough between said head and foot edgesof said cover at a location closer to said foot edge of said main coverthan to said head edge thereof and spaced from said foot edge by aboutone to three feet; (c) the foot edge of the bottom mat being releasablysecured to the foot edge of the main cover; (d) the head edge of thebottom mat being not joined to the head edge of the main cover toprovide an entry into the sleeping bag for a user; and (e) a top coversecured to said main cover and also formed of flexible material andoverlying only a portion of said main cover including said foot edge andsaid transverse slit of said main cover.
 3. A sleeping bag according toclaim 2 further characterized in that upper, transverse fasteningelements are provided and releasably secure said foot extremities ofsaid main cover and said top cover together.
 4. A sleeping bag accordingto claim 3 further characterized in that lower, transverse fasteningelements are provided and releasably secure said foot extremities ofsaid main cover and said bottom mat together.
 5. In a sleeping bagincluding an elongated, flexible bottom mat with opposing first andsecond longitudinally arranged portions, an elongated main cover securedto said bottom mat and having opposing first and second longitudinallyarranged portions respectively overlying said first and second portionsof said bottom mat, a terminal edge of the second portion of the bottommat being releasably joined to a terminal edge of the second portion ofthe main cover, a terminal edge of the first portion of the bottom matbeing not joined to a terminal edge of the first portion of the maincover to provide an entry into the sleeping bag for a human user, theimprovement comprising an upper top cover having opposing longitudinalextremities and overlying only said second portions of said main coverand said bottom mat and wherein a slit is defined through andtransversely across said second portion of said main cover between saidlongitudinal extremities of said upper top cover.
 6. A sleeping bagaccording to claim 5 wherein said top cover has longitudinal extremitiesand said slit is defined in said main cover at spaced longitudinaldistances from both of said longitudinal extremities of said top cover.